The marchin' band came down along the main street
The soldier blues fell in behind
I looked across and there
I was Billy
Waiting to go and join the line
And with her head upon his shoulder
His young and lovely fiancee
From where I stood
I saw she was cryin'
And through her tears
I heard her say
Billy don't be a hero don't be a fool with your life
Billy don't be a hero come back and make me your wife
And as they started to go
She said Billy keep your head low
Billy don't be a hero come back to me
The soldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle raging all around
The sergeant cried
We've gotta hang on boys
We've gotta hold this piece of ground
I need a volunteer to ride up
And bring us back some extra men
And Billy's hand was up in a moment
Forgettin' all the words she said
She said
Billy don't be a hero don't be a fool with your life
Billy don't be a hero come back and make me your wife
And as they started to go
She said Billy keep your head low
Billy don't be a hero come back to me
I heard his fiancee got a letter
That told how Billy died that day
The letter said that he was a hero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw that letter away
